Alexis’ Vintage Glam Dedication

…is the reason we flew thousands of miles to Davao City in the first week of September.

Months before Alexis’ dedication, my childhood friend Bubbles Salem-Floresca sent me a message through Facebook: she was starting to panic! She said she finds it difficult to look for suppliers for Alexis’ party, since they’re already in Davao City (she used to live in Metro Manila)…especially because of the theme she wants: Vintage Glam. I panicked with her (feeling ako eh), yet I also got giddy, for party decors are my weakness, especially girls’ party decor! And my, I loooove the Vintage Glam peg. So I scoured for ideas on the net and sent pictures to Bubbles. And I must say, Bubbles’ stress over the party was definitely worth it!

Here are the details of Alexis’ fantabulous dedication, a feast for both the taste buds and the eyes!

Invitation. Of course, the invitation is the prelude to any event. Thus, it has to keep up with the theme! The invites were from PaperWorks, the same supplier who made Bubbles’ wedding invites.

Invitation

Venue. The party was held at North Palm Hotel and Garden. I guess Bubbles chose this because of the proximity to her place. It was a good choice. Although it was small, it was also new, clean and classy.

North Palm Hotel and Garden Facade

Event Styling. One thing I love the most about Alexis’ dedication is the decor (I’m a sucker for event styling!)…I love that it wasn’t your usual kiddie party theme. Bubbles chose vintage glam because she anticipated that most of the guests would be adults anyway (and she was right). However, the downside was that she had trouble looking for an event stylist! Most of the event stylists she had talked to were coercing her to change Alexis’ dedication theme into something more “kidsy” (I’m betting my money that these include Dora, Spongebob, or Disney princesses), which was “totally off from what I wanted to have as her theme of something sophisticated and elegant look”, according to Bubbles. But thank goodness she found Party Systers–the only supplier that was able to grasp and (I guess) appreciate Bubbles’ vision.

Here’s the rendered backdrop/stage design:

Backdrop/Stage Decor

And here’s the dessert/treats table:

Treats/Dessert Table

Insider chika: the night before the party, we had dinner with Bubbles’ mom, Mama Cris sans Bubbles. She said Bubbles can’t have dinner with us because she had a problem with the event styling. Apparently, the fabric designs that Bubbles and Party Systers originally agreed on were not available, and the fabric designs that the stylists were to use were, erm, unacceptable to Bubbles. At that time pala, the owner of Party Systers was vacationing in Singapore, so Bubbles had to email her concerns. But in fairness to Party Systers, they immediately bought the fabric needed. Moreover, the owner (Casy) also called and apologized to Bubbles as soon as she returned from her trip. Casy also gave Bubbles a discount. IMHO, that was good service recovery. Let’s be reminded that no service is immune to boo-boos. What’s important is how the company makes-up for a botched job.

Moving forward, here are more photos of the treats table:

Treats Table

Classy set-up, eh? Kuhang-kuha ang vintage glam for a little princess! And Bubbles, I’ve been itching to ask…were the feathers and popcorn in cones from the photos I sent you? I mean, is that where you got the idea? If so, I’m really glad!!! If not, OK, moving on *dampened spirit mode, pero OK lang*

These sweets weren’t just eyecandy–they were actually yummy! Cue in the actual food tasting of this cute, discriminating food critique:

Raviv: Erm…p’wede na…(while munching & munching & munching more)

Speaking of cookies and brownies, their supplier was also the cake supplier…

Cakes and pastries. Booked through the Party Systers as well, the cakes & pastries were from All About Cakes. Here are photos of the vintage glam-my cakes and matching cupcakes:

Alexis’ cake & cupcakes

Lootbag/Giveaways. It was the Party Systers that designed the loot box, but it was Bubbles who bought the contents. The loot bags were for “his” and “hers”. Both contained chocolates and other sweets, but the toys in the “his” box were, of course for boys; and the toys in the “hers” box were, of course, for girls.

Loot bag/Giveaways

Flowers/Centerpiece. The table centerpieces were done by the Salem family’s former working student, Ate Vic (for Marivic). Ate Vic handpicked the flowers from Bankerohan market and arranged them. I have fond memories of Ate Vic. I remember wanting Ate Vic to be our working student, because she seemed like a trooper and sincerely loved Bubbles. Indeed she did, because as you can see, Ate Vic is still very close to the Salems! Aaand, I remember how pretty she was is…my memory of her is that she looked like Aiko Melendez. And so when we met again after two decades on Alexis’ dedication, her first words were: Hi Dewmaine! Kamukha ko pa rin ba si Aiko?
Yes Ate Vic, you’re still very stunning, and mas maganda ka kay Aiko!

flower centerpiece

Food. The food and linen were provided by North Palm’s inhouse catering. After the lechon, my most favorite dish was the fish fillet; my mom’s fave was the molo soup. Too bad we’ve got no pictures of ’em.

Alexis’ Outfit.Bongga! I lurved Alexis’ white tutu-ish gown! And the best part? It was Bubbles who made Alexis’ dress! Take a look:

Alexis in the gown her mom made for her

So pretty, right? And that’s not all! Here is tutu number two (rhyming slightly intended, hehe)

Tutu 2

Alexis’ gowns make me wish that next baby is really going to be a baby girl! And when that happens, I’m definitely going to ask Bubbles to make more of these tutus (Bubbles, why don’t you make more of these and sell ’em?)

Guestbook. Bubbles’ creative genius didn’t just end with the tutus, for she also made the Alexis’ guestbook with matching vintage glam pen!

Bubbles’ DIY guestbook and pen

I’m giving Alexis’ dedication a two-thumbs up using both of my hands. Too bad her Daddy BJ, a seaman, wasn’t able to come home from the US because of a last minute work fiasco (and, it was but less than a week before the dedication when the BJ learned he won’t be allowed to go back home). Sayang, Randy and I were looking forward to bond with BJ. Laters, BJ. 🙂

*****

Some might wonder why we had to fly to Davao just to attend a baby dedication of someone who isn’t family. But Bubbles may even be more than family to me; she is my “ultimate kababata“. By ultimate kababata, it means that we spent at least five New Year’s Eves together, went to swimming resorts together, flowergirled together, had several sleepovers when we were kids, and countless other activities together. If you check my old photo albums, she’s always there. I even used to go their house just to read her stash of Funny Comics (under the guise of wanting to play with her). Basta, I could not enumerate every reason why her family, the Salems, are special to us. Even to Randy.

The friendship began with our moms…

Mama Cristy (Bubbles’ mama) and Mom

…to us…

Mommy Bubbles & Nanay Dewmaine

…and we hope will continue to our lovely kids!

Bubbles and I with our gorgeous babies

Bubbles, BJ, and Alexis, let’s make sure we push through with our around-the-US double family date trip next year, OK?

Love,
Dew, Randy and Raviv 🙂

Note: The photos without the “The Chronicles of Nanay Dew” watermark were taken by the event’s official photographer, Jason Comighod; otherwise, they were taken by me, Randy or someone I gave the camera to.